How to prune encyclia cochleata

After the flower spike is fully spent and browned, any time of year. Cut fully spent and browned flower spikes at their base with sterile scissors. Check the spike carefully before cutting — green tissue indicates it may still produce buds. Remove dead leaves cleanly at the pseudobulb junction.

Rarely — only when spikes and leaves are completely dead. Encyclia cochleata, the cockleshell orchid, needs very little pruning. Its flower spikes are long-blooming and can produce successive flowers for many months — do not cut active spikes. Remove a spike only once it is completely brown and dead. Trim dead or yellowed leaves at the pseudobulb base with sterile scissors.

Cut fully spent and browned flower spikes at their base with sterile scissors. Check the spike carefully before cutting — green tissue indicates it may still produce buds. Remove dead leaves cleanly at the pseudobulb junction.